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 June 2025
As we step into summer, the Workforce Innovation Board of Ramsey County (WIB) remains focused on creating pathways to opportunities for all members of our community. This month’s newsletter highlights the critical role of caring careers in our regional economy, events that bring job seekers and employers together and tools to support more inclusive hiring practices. We also honor Juneteenth—a moment to reflect on our shared history and celebrate the culture and contributions of Black Minnesotans. I invite you to explore the events, resources, and stories shared here, and to join us in building a stronger, more connected workforce for Ramsey County.
On behalf of the WIB, thank you for your continued partnership and dedication to making Ramsey County a vibrant place to live, work, and do business.
Catrice O'Neal, WIB Executive Director
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The health care and social assistance industry employs people who provide care for others, including Personal Care Aides, Physical Therapists, Nursing Assistants, Childcare Workers, Physicians and many other roles sometimes referred to as the caring professions. More than 511,500 people work in health care and social assistance in Minnesota, making it the largest employing industry in the state, accounting for more than one in every six jobs.
Visit Careerforce.mn.gov to learn more about careers in healthcare and social assistance.
Juneteenth, celebrated on June 19, marks the day in 1865 when the last enslaved people in the United States learned of their freedom—more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. In Ramsey County and across Minnesota, it is a time to honor Black history, culture, and contributions to our communities.
Learn about Juneteenth events in the metro area.
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The Saint Paul Children’s Collaborative (SPCC) is now accepting proposals for two-year grants that support progress toward their Youth Outcomes Plan—a citywide vision ensuring all young people in Saint Paul learn, grow, and thrive. Organizations working to directly improve youth outcomes are encouraged to apply. Proposals must demonstrate measurable impact toward at least one of the plan’s eight goals (excluding Connection to Caring Adults, which is expected of all grantees).
An optional information session will be held on June 11 from 9–10 a.m. via Zoom to share updates on the Youth Outcomes Plan and provide details about the grant process. Interested applicants must notify SPCC of their intent to apply by June 27 at 5 p.m., with full proposals due by July 11 at 5 p.m.
View the Youth Outcomes Plan data and access the RFP details here.
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CareerForce in Saint Paul has officially opened in its new location in the Metro Square Building, relocating from its former site at Fairview and University Avenue. This updated space is designed to provide a more welcoming and effective experience for job seekers and employers, with support from both state and county staff. Services include job search assistance, résumé writing, and referrals to training and education partners.
Conveniently located just across the hall from Ramsey County’s downtown Service Center, the new site makes it easier for residents to access workforce support alongside other county services. We invite you to stop by and see the new space in action!
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Inclusive Employer Toolkit: Strategies for improving employee recruitment
Workforce Solutions and the WIB are leading efforts to support employers to create a sense of welcoming for all employees within their organizations. One of these efforts is to provide an Inclusive Employer Toolkit. The toolkit aims to help employers provide a more welcoming environment for all by offering practices to build inclusion in the areas of employee recruitment, hiring, onboarding and retention.
The Recruitment section of the Toolkit outlines how to craft and share job postings that use inclusive, plain, and gender-neutral language, while providing clear wage information and innovative benefits to attract a broad range of candidates. It also emphasizes expanding recruitment channels and collecting demographic data to refine hiring practices, ensuring that job requirements and screening processes are truly accessible to all individuals.
View the toolkit.
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 We’re thrilled to sponsor the 2025 Inclusive Workplaces Cohort, a 9-month peer learning journey designed to help Ramsey County employers build more inclusive and supportive workplaces. Each month, we’ll spotlight one of the participating organizations that’s leaning into this important work. This month's spotlight is MNGI Digestive Health, a nationally recognized leader in gastroenterology diagnosis, quality and care. Follow along on social media and in future WIB newsletters to see how these employers are leading by example.
Health Care & Social Assistance is the Metro Area's largest-employing industry sector. According to DEED's Quarterly Census of Employment & Wages (QCEW), this industry had 14,721 establishments in 2024 supplying nearly 304,300 covered jobs. As such, over one-in-six jobs in the Metro Area are in Health Care & Social Assistance. The next largest-employing industry, Manufacturing, has 131,500 less jobs.
Additionally, Health Care & Social Assistance has been the Metro Area's largest-growing industry. Between 2010 and 2024, Health Care & Social Assistance gained over 87,800 net new jobs. This equated to a growth rate of 40.6%, which was about three times faster than the growth across the total of all industries during that period. More recently, between 2019 and 2024, Health Care & Social Assistance gained over 25,300 jobs. Of the eight major industry sectors to gain jobs during this period, Health Care & Social Assistance was at the top. In fact, it accounted for more employment growth than the remaining seven industries combined. During this period, all industries were down about 13,100 jobs, still looking to recover the jobs lost due to the COVID pandemic in 2020.
Continue reading the article by Tim O'Neill, DEED Regional Analyst.
Visit Ramsey County's Workforce Training Dashboard to learn more about how the county is connecting residents to the training programs needed to get people started or advancing in a career.
Providers of free or low cost workforce training programs can submit their program information for inclusion on the training dashboard through an easy to use self-submission form. The training dashboard includes nearly 100 training programs in and near Ramsey County across a wide range of in-demand industry sectors.
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Bryan Kuzel
Human Resources Director, Mississippi Market Natural Foods Co-op
Member since 2024
As a member of the WIB, what workforce issues are you most passionate about addressing?
There’s so much untapped talent in our community—people who simply need the right opportunity, mentorship or support to thrive. I’m passionate about removing barriers and creating pathways for all types of workers to succeed. That means expanding access to training, supporting youth and nontraditional candidates, adapting to shifting skill demands, and building inclusive hiring pipelines. In a time of rapid change, it’s essential that we equip our county’s workforce with the tools and resources they need to adapt, grow, and thrive.
Learn more about Bryan.
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Employer of the Day
Tuesdays, 3–5 p.m., at the Roseville Library
Looking for a new job? Every Tuesday, employers will visit the Ramsey County Library in Maplewood to talk about job opportunities in their organization. Bring your resumé and your best first impression to get hired.
Featured employers:
If your business is interested in being an Employer of the Day, please contact employerservices@ramseycounty.us.
All are welcome!
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9th Annual Union Job Fair
June 12, 1-6 p.m.
Electrical Industry Building, 1330 Conway Street, Saint Paul
All are invited to the 9th Annual Union Job and Resource Fair on Saint Paul’s East Side.
The event aims to connect individuals in our community with potential employers and local resources to create pathways towards a union career. There will be onsite interviewing, hiring, assistance with resume writing, apprenticeship program information, community resources – including expungement services – and drawings for gift cards.
Unions, training programs and employers have career opportunities throughout the entire metro area! There are opportunities for all, including those just starting out, looking for a first job or seasoned workers looking to land into a new career with thriving pay and benefits.
If you are an employer or a non-profit service provider, please register here.
Learn more.
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 Midway Area Job Fair
June 18, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Allianz Field, 400 Snelling Ave N, Saint Paul
Are you looking to get back to work or advance your career? Bring your resume and your best first impression to this in-person job fair! Connect with local employers that have current job openings. The fair will be held outdoors. Employers include:
- ACR Homes / ACR Healthcare
- Bay West
- Blaze Credit Union
- CareerForce MN
- City of Saint Paul
- Doherty Staffing Solutions
- FedEx
- Innovize
- Marsden Services
- Metropolitan Council
- State of Minnesota
- Mississippi Market Natural Foods Co-op
- Minnesota Precision Manufacturing Association
- Olympic Companies, Inc.
- Ramsey County Workforce Solutions
- Regions Hospital
- Saint Paul Public School and Saint Paul Urban Teacher Residency Program
- Target
- Teachers On Call, A Kelly Education Company
- United States Postal Service - St Paul
- University of Minnesota Department of Public Safety
- And many more!
This year's event will also include a new Tech Skills and Resources Corner for people who want to improve their digital literacy, get connected to basic computer classes and tech connectivity resources.
In the event of rain on June 18, the event will be moved to July 10.
Learn more.
 Employer Webinar: How ERAF Can Transform Your Business
June 18, 2-3 p.m.
Discover how the Employer Reasonable Accommodation Fund (ERAF) can help your business thrive while fostering a more inclusive workplace. Small to mid-sized businesses in Minnesota can receive reimbursements of up to $30,000 for providing reasonable accommodations for job applicants and employees with disabilities.
It’s straightforward, it’s impactful and it’s your gateway to connecting with outstanding talent.
Join DEED for an informative and engaging session that will cover:
- The benefits of workplace inclusivity for your business.
- How ERAF simplifies providing accommodations and supports your bottom line.
- Real-world examples of accommodations that enhance productivity and employee satisfaction.
Learn how this innovative program can position your business as a leader in inclusivity while meeting your workforce needs. Don’t miss this chance to gain actionable insights and make your workplace more accessible.
Register today!
Juneteenth Family Celebration and Career Fair
June 21, 12-6 p.m.
Minnesota State Capitol, 75 Rev. Martin Luther King Jr Blvd.
In 2021, the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners declared Juneteenth a holiday. The ANIKA Foundation partnered with Ramsey County to produce an annual Juneteenth Celebration to commemorate this historic event.
The Juneteenth Family Celebration is a community event that honors the culture, journey and contributions of People of African Descent in Minnesota. Come celebrate the Ancestors, the food, the music, and the legacy.
Learn more.
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 MN Skills-Based Hiring Accelerator Workshops
June, 24, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Blaine Human Services Center, 1201 89th Ave NE, Blaine
The Twin Cities Metro Workforce Development Boards are establishing a new partnership with Goodwill Easter-Seals, the St. Paul Area Chamber, the Minneapolis Regional Chamber and Twin Cities SHRM for the MN Skills-Based Hiring Accelerator program. Employers can participate in a half-day in-person workshop to receive in-depth learning on:
- Rebuilding an employer's hiring process with a skills and competency-based approach by focusing on candidates’ capabilities rather than credentials.
- Improving retention by rebuilding job descriptions, interview processes, onboarding and more.
- Increasing diversity among your workforce using data-driven tools that lead to more equitable hiring processes.
- Providing networking with talent-sourcing organizations.
Following participation in a workshop, employers have access to monthly Community of Practice calls where they can dive into questions about the skills-based hiring process and receive optional one-on-one coaching from facilitators.
Visit www.mnskillsbased.com to sign up & learn more!
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An ongoing initiative in Ramsey County provides young people with the technology training required for a variety of tech support roles in Ramsey County. The Tech Squads program is funded through a legislative direct appropriation and targets people aged 18-24 living in low-income areas. These state funds were allocated for workforce readiness and to address employment barriers for young people by helping them jumpstart a career in tech support.
Within the seven-county metro area, the information technology sector provides 17% more careers than the national average, and entry-level support roles hire workers without a four-year degree. These IT jobs provide average annual salaries capable of meeting or exceeding local basic needs, creating new opportunities for young workers raised in low-income regions.
According to data compiled by Real Time Talent from the Lightcast 2025Q1 dataset, the average annual wages for IT occupations without a degree requirement are $71,000 for a computer user support specialist, $81,600 for computer network support specialists, and $95,500 for web and digital interface designers. Entry-level workers start at an average salary of $53,400 in a computer user support specialist role.
Continue to the full article.
As Ramsey County’s workforce evolves, understanding key trends is crucial for fostering a thriving and resilient economy. Throughout 2025, these articles will explore the critical workforce trends shaping our communities. The trends were presented by Erin Olson, Senior Director of Strategic Research at RealTime Talent at the Top Trends to Watch in 2025 in Ramsey County’s Workforce Landscape webinar in February.
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